Government calls for offshore wind innovation

The Government is offering funding of up to £10m to innovative projects that aim to reduce the cost of offshore wind energy.

Up to £7m is available under the third round of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Technology Strategy Board's (TSB) component technologies development and demonstration scheme, with a further £3m for technical feasibility studies in the offshore wind innovation arena.

DECC and TSB expect to help fund between five and 10 projects, depending on the volume and quality of the applications received.

The funding can be used to explore new ideas currently in the early stages of research and applications are encouraged from a range of sectors including those such as aerospace and oil and gas where the adaptation of existing technologies for the offshore wind sector could help cut costs in the future.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: "This cash will help innovators across the UK develop a range of new ideas to cut costs and make offshore wind turbines more efficient to run".

Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board Iain Gray added: "Through this funding we want to encourage the development of technologies that will reduce the cost of energy from offshore wind farms, while ensuring that companies in the UK supply chain increase their share of the market".

Announcing the funding, Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Close collaboration between industry and government, through the UK Automotive Council, will help ensure the projects this initiative funds will address important technology challenges and help to strengthen UK capability in low carbon. It's an example of our industrial strategy in action".